Jared Isaacman announces SpaceX Polaris programme, 1st crewed Starship launch

Billionaire Jared Isaacman, who was part of SpaceX's first private mission - Inspiration4 - in 2021, announced Polaris programme in an effort to 'rapidly vance human spaceflight capabilities'. founder of payments company Shift4 will be flying again with SpaceX under  Polaris Dawn human spaceflight mission which is targeted for launch no earlier than fourth quarter of 2022. Accompanying Issacman will be Scott “Kidd” Poteet, a veteran member of Jared’s team along with two SpaceX employees- Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon. It is worth noting, that third mission under programme would be first crewed flight of futuristic Starship. 

Introducing Polaris program

Polaris Dawn would be first of three human spaceflights missions under Polaris programme which, according to Issacman, "is an important step in vancing human space exploration while helping to solve problems through use of innovative technology here on Earth". Under first flight, which would be commanded by Issacman, SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will spend five days in orbit for astronauts to conduct  first-ever commercial spacewalk wearing SpaceX spacesuits.

(Anna Menon, Scott Poteet, Jared Isaacman, and Sarah Gillis (left to right); Image: Polaris Program/John Kraus)

Moreover, mission would also include testing first-ever Starlink laser-based communications system and scientific research on human health both on Earth and during spaceflights. With Isaacman serving as mission commander, Poteet would serve as pilot while Gillis and Menon have been selected as mission specialists, with former being responsible for overseeing company’s astronaut training programme. Dawn crew would board Dragon spacecraft for five-day-long mission at  Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 

similarity between Inspiration4 and Polaris

Inspiration4 mission, which was launched on September 15 as first all-civilian flight, aimed to raise $200 million (over Rs 1,512.48 crore) for  St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Lasting a total of three days, astronauts through this mission were able to raise over $240 million. Polaris programme promises to build upon Inspiration4 mission as it aims to keep raising funds and awareness for St. Jude's. 

(Image: @PolarisProgram/Twitter)